This was one of the more interesting hands I played this year. Because it is so player-specific, I didn't really think I would be able to write it up, or if it would even be worth it. Eventually, figured I would give it a shot:
2/5/500 My first day back after hiatus. Local whale had recently sat and in about 25 minutes added $3k to the table, so overall we were fairly Deepstacked.
I have $1.6k. Villain around $1.1k. I know villain very well. He is an aggressive player far better than people give him credit for.
He is a good hand and situation reader. And during this exchange I fully believe he knows what I am holding. Straightforward hand is straightforward. However, the reads go both ways.
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Limped 7 ways to my SB, and I wake up with A
A
I make it 35 to go. Ideally I am hoping for 1 or 2 callers. Not afraid to play AA OOP, but prefer to take it down with as little mess as possible.
I get 6 callers. Heh.
Flop 8
5
K
Not too scary a board, but with 6 callers who knows. I lead out $135. I feel this bet gives me maneuverability should I need to re-evaluate.
Villain, in HJ, is the only one who calls.
Turn K
I check for a few reasons. Pot control obviously is one but I also know villains's tendencies and I am about 90% sure If I check he will bet, and it won't be small.
He bets $250
And I go into the tank, but not for the reasons observers likely think. Folding here is not an option. I do not believe villain has a King. Based on significant history, instinct, body language, preflop tendencies, etc, I'm not too concerned.
But first I try to out him on a King, just in case. And just about every scenario that puts a king in his hand just doesn't make sense based on how he has played this hand. Threat level: Minimal.
Does he have air? No. Is he capable of making this play with any 8, any 5, 67, 85, etc? Yes. Would he ever check those hands here to take a fee card? No. With the exception maybe of 67 35% of the time.
Would he make this play with a set? No, not the way he bet. If he has a set, his body language and actions have me completely fooled.
I am convinced I have the best hand. Now the question: blow him off it now and take the pot, or check and let him bluff the river?
After a good 4-5 minutes in the tank (and now we have a crowd, sorry, table) I flat. And say "I hope you have 8-5."
River is 8
EFF. MY. LIFE.
Everyone chuckles a bit, I check and he bets $300. Brutal.
Now I can beat 67, a 5, or a pocket pair. There is about $1400 in the pot and I am getting ridiculous odds.
Do I think I'm beat now? Yes. Threat Level: Midnight
Still, he doesn't look all that comfortable. The thought crosses my mind to CRAI, but I'm fairly certain he has me on AA and will make a crying call because of pot size. Too late to rep the King.
After about 3 minutes I decide I just can't fold getting such a price, I call, he has 86os and I lose.
Because of the leveling involved, I'm trying to decide if I made an optimal play with bad results, or if I should have just jammed turn, or If I could have folded river. Or should I have jammed river? (Hell does anyone fold turn given history and strength on reads?)
Few people started chatting "how do U call him there on turn and river??"
"Because I play better than you!" Is my thought, but I keep that to myself. Do I? Rest of table surely would have loss less on that hand. Did I get too fancy with my turn call? Was my river call LOL bad? Should I be results oriented here?
I give it a little back and forth with him and table, try to act more tilted than I am (I'm not happy, but I'm not tilted).
And after not being sure about how I played the hand, then feeling I should have folded river, then after a few days of thought I convince myself that I think I played the hand ok. The biggest mistake is I should have made my turn decision faster so I could possibly rep the King, but at the time that thought never crossed my mind, and my turn tank was real and not Hollywood.
Would be very interested to get thoughts on this. It's safe to assume villain has a very strong read as to where I am at in this hand, and he knows I am capable of folding AA here.